- Sound waves enter the ear canal and cause the eardrum (tympanic membrane) to vibrate. - These vibrations are transmitted through the middle ear ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) to the oval window. - The oval window's movement creates pressure variations in the fluid within the cochlea, which is a spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear. - The cochlea contains the organ of Corti, which houses tiny hair cells. These hair cells are mechanoreceptors that are stimulated by the fluid movements. - When stimulated, the hair cells generate electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve.